Staff To Look Into Leaf Blower Noise, Street Parking

January 27, 2009

West U. Council has asked city staff to gather more information on the use of gasoline powered leaf blowers for presentation at a future meeting. The issue, which has been raised in years past, was brought up again by resident Joe Foster after he told council in an e-mail that his family missed an emergency phone call due to noise from a gas powered leaf blower.

Council requested at Monday night’s meeting information on issues such as quieter models, less polluting models, what other cities have done regarding the matter, how much more it could cost to have a yard maintained without the use of the equipment and possibilities for more restrictive quiet hours.

Council also asked staff to gather more information on the issue on street parking, such as the recommendations of traffic engineers, what effect the ban on overnight street parking has had on the neighboring city of Southside Place, issues concerning emergency vehicle access and solid waste truck access and weather removing all vehicles from the street through the night will increase speeding.

Both issues will be presented again to council at a future meeting.

Also during Monday night’s meeting, council approved the appointment of Robin McGowen and Julie Foster to the Friends of West U. Parks, Inc., Board. In accordance with the Waters Group recommendations, council also voted to increase City Secretary Thelma Lenz’s salary from $66,700 to $72,302. The previous salary fell below the new range minimum of the compensation study, and the increase was included in the 2009 budget.